The Masters

As we dream about golfing here in Western New York, the Masters golfers played the first two rounds.

Nick Dunlap carded a 90 on day one.

18 over par. He was 11 shots behind the 2nd worst player on Thursday, and had a couple of triple bogeys.

Poor guy had to be horrified on the national stage, but as we all know - it happens.

First off, Augusta would absolutely destroy any of us weekend warriors.

I once asked a buddy of mine who usually shoots in the 70’s and has played a few of the pro courses. 

I think he shot about a 90 at the pro courses.

“What would I hit there?”

“At least 125,” he said, and he was probably being generous.

Putting on a pro course would probably cost me a few putters.

And the fairways are tight and the rough is impossible.

Finally, I can’t imagine trying to hit a tee shot with people lined up and watching me.

So, there’s that, but it’s all relative.

Golf is an impossibly difficult game, and I’ve been playing it for 45 years.

It is also the only thing I can do for three hours and not think about anything else.

I have also had a few great rounds (for me) and the difference between those rounds and all the others was that I truly focused and concentrated those days. (I also had good bounces).

Nick Dunlap had a first day that is more common for all of us.

You can hit a perfect shot that lands in the middle of the fairway in a little hole that leads to a crap next shot…

…or you can hit a beauty that crawls into a sand trap.

Not to mention all the putts that stop a quarter inch from dropping into the cup…

…turning a par into a bogie.

Which leads to a bad tee shot on the next hole because you’re pissed at your putter.

And your focus is gone!

Nick Dunlap will have to hear a lot about his miserable round of 90, but perspective!

He was playing Augusta in the Masters and he likely would have beat me by at least 40 strokes…

…God, I can’t wait to get out there.